The Emperor's Children - Claire Messud

A bestselling, masterful novel about the intersections in the lives of three friends, now on the cusp of their thirties, making their way-and not-in New York City.

There is beautiful, sophisticated Marina Thwaite-an "It" girl finishing her first book; the daughter ofMurray Thwaite,celebratedintellectual andjournalist-and her two closest friends from Brown, Danielle, a quietly appealing television producer, and Julius, acash-strapped freelance critic. The delicious complications that arise among them become dangerous when Murray's nephew, Frederick "Bootie" Tubb, an idealistic college dropout determined to make his mark, comes to town. As the skies darken, it is Bootie's unexpected decisions-and their stunning, heartbreaking outcome-that will change each of their lives forever.

A richly drawn, brilliantly observed novel of fate and fortune-of innocence and experience, seduction and self-invention; of ambition, including literary ambition; of glamour, disaster, and promise-The Emperor's Childrenis a tour de force that brings to life a city, a generation, and the way we live in this moment.

ANew York Times Book ReviewBest Book of the Year